I'm on the phone this morning dealing with the unemployment office, and the "Work source department", and the "This" department and the "That" Department, and I'm actually having a rather pleasant time of it I think, because before dialing, I'd become lightly stewed on some hot Sake.

Sake (Rice Wine) is quite magical - it is I think one of the best social lubricants ever concocted. Indeed, I've had more pleasant social interactions with complete strangers at a Sushi bar than at any other public gathering place. Sake brings out a measure of empathy and relaxed humor that facilitate some of the best human interaction I've experienced.

I tend to like people more readily when I'm in the relaxed state of mind induced by this particular form of alcohol. For some reason, I forget just how depraved the standard human is and view him/her as an interesting and reasonable sort. If most the world leaders could maintain this state of mind - we'd all be much less tense, and the graveyards nowhere near as full.